Truck.



Patented Apr. l6, I901. L. E. RUHER.

No. 672,l52.

T B U C K (Application filed Dec. 3, 1900.,-

No Model.)

[N VE TOR I Attorney mi: NORRIS Farms 0).. PNOYB-LITHO.. WASNINGTON, a.c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC LOUIS EUGENE RUHER, OF WAVERLY, NEW YORK.

T-RUCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 672,152, dated April16, 1901.

Application filed December 3,1900. Serial No.38,459. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern;

Be it known that 1, Louis EUGENE RUHER, of Waverly, in the county ofTioga and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Trucks; and I do hereby declare the following to beafull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My invention relates to an improvement in trucks, and more particularlyto that class of trucks designed for moving stoves, trunks, barrels,boxes, ($50., the object being to provide a strong and compact devicecapable of supporting heavy burdens in an evenly-balanced manner andwhich may be easily controlled in both ascending and descending stepsand without requiring undue exertions on the part of the laborer.

With this end in view my invention consists in certain novel features ofconstruction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter morefully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a view of my improvedtruck. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section thereof; and Fig. 3 is a similarview, the yoke being represented in its inoperative position.

1 represents a frame or platform for receiving the burden to be moved.This platform comprises the side members 2 2, a series of cross-bars 3,connecting said side members, a central bar 12 parallel with the sidemembers and connecting the cross-bars 3, and a roller 4, mounted betweenthe front ends-of the side members 2 2, the opposite ends of the latterbeing shaped to form handles 5 5 for operating the truck.

The forward cross-bar 3 is provided on its upper face with a removablestop 6 for preventing the burden carried by the truck from sliding offthe platform when the truck is at rest or being rolled upon levelsurfaces. This stop is concaved' on its top to receive the convexedsurface of a barrel or other object, whereby the latter may be firmlysupported against sidewise movement while the truck is being moved or isat rest.

Secured to the side members 2 2 of the platform and depending therefromare the oppositely-located brackets or hangers 7 7, which latter are sosituated with respect to the burden-supporting surface of said platformas to support the entire weight placed centrally upon the platform, thusrendering it possible for the operator to easily handle the truckwithout being required to assist in sustaining any of the weight carriedby the truck. The brackets or hangers 7 7 are prevented from spreadingapart or collapsing at their free ends by a bar 8, which connects thetwo brackets firmly together, and rigidly secured to the bottom edge ofthis bar is an axle 9, the free ends of which project through bearingsin said brackets to receive the Wheels 10 10, which are revolublysupported thereon.

Mounted in suitable bearings carried in the forward ends of side members2 2 is a swinging yoke 13, in which is suitably mounted the auxiliarywheel 14, which latter is only used when the truck is being pushed overlevel surfaces. This yokeis supported either in its operative orinoperative position by means of a spring-actuated catch 15, carriedagainst the bottom of platform 1, and is coupled up with said yoke bythe rods 16. This catch consists of a plate 17, bent at or near itscenter, as shown at 17*, so as to bring its forward or narrower end in ahigher horizontal plane than the plane of the rear or wider end. Thisplate is supported by and slides through the loops 18, depending fromthe under side of the platform, and is adapted to be locked in either ofits positions by means of a rib 19, formed on the bottom face of theWide portion of plate 17, and a flat spring 20, the free end of whichlatter projects within the large loop 18 and rests against said plate.This rib projects from the under side of plate 17, and when the swingingyoke is in its inoperative position the said rib bears against the rearside of the large loop 18. To throw the yoke to its operative position,the

plate 17 should be pressed up to disengage the rib from the loop andthen pushed forwardly. This movement carries the rib through the largeloop, and when the plate 17 is released the ribis in advance of theloop, and thus locks the yoke in its operative position. The spring 20bears down on the plate and nor mally holds the same in contact with theloop. Hence it will be seen that when the rib passes the loop the springautomatically throws the After the burden to be moved has been securelyfastened to the platform by chains, ropes, or other fastening devicesthe truck is rolled in front of the steps to be ascended, and afterbeing placed in a position in front of the lower step and after theswinging yoke has been turned to itsinoperative position the roller onthe front end of the platform is lowered onto the tread of the secondstep. By now lifting on the handles so as to elevate the main wheels toa position in line with the tread of the first step the truck can bepushed forwardly until the main wheels are resting on the first step.The handles are now depressed to bring the roller above the plane of theriser of the tread of the third step, and the handles are then elevatedand the truck pushed forwardly to bring the main wheels on the tread ofthe second step, and so on throughout the entire flight. After it haspassed the steps the swinging yoke can then be turned to bring its wheelin a position to support the front end of the truck. In descending stepsthe truck should be rolled to the top of the stairs, and after the mainwheels have been lowered on to the first step the yoke should be swungto its inoperative position, so as to permit the roller to engage thefloor. The truck is uowdrawn forwardly, and when the main wheels reachthe edge of the top step the handles should be lifted, so as to throwthe weight on the roller, and then by lowering the handles the mainwheels are lowered on the second step. By now depressing the front endof the platform the roller is now lowered on the front step, and so onthroughout the entire series of steps.

It is evident that changes in the construction and relative arrangementof the several parts might be made without avoiding my invention, andhence I would have it understood that I do not restrict myself to theparticular construction and arrangement of parts shown and described;but,

Having fully described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a truck, the combination with a platform mounted on a single setof wheels disposed centrally between the ends of the platform, of anauxiliary wheel having a swinging connection with the forward portion ofsaid platform and means for locking said wheel in its operative andinoperative positions, substantially as set forth.

2. In a truck, the combination with a platform mounted on a pair of mainwheels, of a yoke pivotally connected with the forward portion of saidplatform, a wheel mounted in said yoke and adapted to travel in advanceof the main wheels and means for locking said wheel either in itsoperative or its inoperative position, substantially as set forth.

3. In a truck, the combination with a platform mounted on a pair ofoppositely-disposed wheels, of an auxiliary wheel having a swingingconnection with the forward end of said platform and a spring-actuatedcatch carried by the platform and adapted to lock said wheel either inits operative or inoperative position, substantially as set forth.

4. In a truck, the combination with a platform, centrally located mainsupportingwheels, a roller mounted in the front ends of the side bars ofthe platform and handles at the rear ends of said side bars, of a yokepivotally connected with the platform between the main wheels and rollerand in proximity to the latter, a wheel mounted in the lower end of theyoke and means for locking the yoke.

5. The combination with a platform, supporting-wheels locatedintermediate the ends of said platform, a roller at the forward end andhandles at the rear end of said platform,of a swinging yoke intermediatethe main wheels and roller and carrying a wheel and a stop detachablysecured on the top of the platform immediately behind the roller,substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribmg witnesses.

LOUIS EUGENE RUHER.

Witnesses:

JOHN T. GUNTHER, E. A. VAUGH.

